i'm sorry if i lashed out at you, but when someone says the same thing over and over again, i start to get annoyed, 99% of the people here are convinced they went "political" because it's trendy and i don't see why an artist can't change the style and theme of his lyrics......and this whole, "i hate green day" and "only kiddies listen to green day and think they're "punk" bullshit is really getting on my nerves....if you don't like the music, just say so, don't diss someone just because they're really popular right now and dissing them makes you so ultra cool and punk, cuz you're all "against the mainstream"....

It makes slim to f-all sence, It really is an overcooked song. And i dont know how they've done it when they repeat the same verses over and over. Its not like they had to think of a novel, just two verses a chorus and they still overcooked it. They had a simple idea and turned it into rocket science.

Rage talked a lot of crap too but you knew what they were getting at. Peoples rights.
American Idiot is just...what... the f...k...so you..errrrrr....hate America?

if live 8 was so worried about raising $ for africa, all the artist wouldnt have accepted tens of thousands of $'s in goody bags back stage!!! lets give the africans some of that shampagne and caviar!

With a recent show of interest in artists such as Frank Turner and Billy Bragg, I'm going to revive this old thread.

I'm looking for contributions from members such as Fal/Crowquill/LesPaul/RAR
and anyone else who has an opinion on the question...

...Do you think musicians should be political, or do you think that they should stick to music and leave the politics to the politicians?

As long as it goed deeper than ''**** the government, cuz they suck'' I think it's good to express your feelings through music. You can share your thoughts, and maybe win some people to your side. But they shouldn't be singing crap, they have to know what they're talking about.

Yesss, I think they should, I mean whats going to interest the youth in politics more a rockstar or some old dude in a suit?

I'm learning alot from Frank Turner (and right-track =P) about some british things I never knew stuff about. Like not only is it a get your political message out there, it also educates people with I don't think people can get enough of.

I think however, when its mindless political crap it doesn't help much. When its just your typical punk "lolz bush suck! fux t3h goverment anarkee" it becomes crappy. If you actually have something to say fine, if you're jumping on a bandwagon or just preaching about something to fit into a little niche then it becomes a little stupid.

disclaimer: havn't read whole thread, so i'm probaly repeating someone & its 3am if I aint making much sense oh well. I'll tidy this up later.

Although I ussually don't care about the lyrics (If I like the music, I like it screw lyrics) but when bands complain about how their government is sh*t well why the hell don't they try to lead a country with millions of people.

Express ideas all you want, but don't go saying that the governemnt is **** when they do a f*ckin good job under all the pressure.

I say that if the lyrics they write that do have a message behind them that pertains to politics is thought provoking and makes the mass of their fans want to learn about the topic instead of taking their word for it. Then they should go for it. But bands like Anti-Flag and NOFX have no place is expressing their "opinions" they're just as uneducated as their fans on the topics. RATM had the right idea with their music, it got me to read up on Mumia and socialism and the people division in Mexico. So if it makes you think and want to learn more about the subject then it's good, not if it's like everyone else stated (the whole "fxck teh grnmnt anarkee" crap).

^

I concur.
Especially RATM supporting the Zapatistas, that's pretty awesome.

/insulted

Music is political, politics effects those who exist in a society and usually the world.

Music is often the first thing that kicks starts the revolution. Its history is steeped in politics. Campaigns use music to sell themselves. Sometimes music is used in a campaign to bash their opponent (Tippie Canoe and Tyler too).

Yes it should be intertwined. People who say otherwise just don't like a songs political philosophy.